*Sigh* This is getting out of hand. Feminism is the idea that everyone is equal, plain and simple. Feminists are not 'ugly dykes' and are not 'the epitome of perfection'. Women who hate men are *not* feminists. Jeez, you all need to cool it.

Gloria Steinem was a feminist.
Virginia Woolfe was a feminist.
That chick at the bar who calls all men rapists was not a feminist.

Feminism is the belief held by a feminist. A feminist, in turn, is someone who believes that women are entitled to equal rights which in turn means equal pay for equal work.

While there are most assuredly some feminists who are extreme in their beliefs, and who do dislike men (usually as a result of abuse or rape) most feminists -- and one need not be a female to believe in equal rights for both sexes, in fact, one wonders why everyone doesn't believe in equality -- most feminists are simply seeking equal rights under the law, and equal pay for equal work.

Feminists do not hate men, nor are they "ugly dykes" -- it is infuriating to see hateful, useless, polarizing descriptions of this kind. In point of fact, the men who define feminists as "ugly dykes" are almost always the kind of men who create extremists; if I'm trying to obtain equal pay for my work, and I'm told that this is not a legitimate goal, but instead that I am "an ugly, hairy armpit, fat, can't get laid bitch" (this comes from one of the definitions) then I'm likely to feel extreme dislike for that individual.

If this happens enough times, you can see why a feminist would turn into an extremist and start hating the people who delight in mislabeling her and distorting her beliefs.

And of course there are greedy, ugly souls out there who are women, just as there are greedy, ugly people who are men. Given the dispersement of wealth in this country, the majority of these people are men, not women.. but there are a small minority of women who are as bad as their greedy, uncaring, "it's not my problem" male counterparts. No argument there.

The MAJORITY, however, of feminists are people who work for a living, work hard, and are frustrated at having to work twice as hard to make less money than their male colleagues. They don't want to make MORE for less work, or less experience.. simply equal pay for equal work, and equal protection under the law.

The only thing really in question is why anyone WOULDN'T support that. Why would anyone be AGAINST equal protection under the law, and equal pay for equal work unless that individual believed that women were a lesser life form or not as "human" as men, and therefore deserved to be treated without equality under the law, and without equal pay for equal work.

And if you believe that... well, then you're not quite sane, are you?

Feminists believe that all people, male and female, are entitled to equal protection under the law, and equal pay for equal work. The question is, why don't YOU believe in it?

an idea that involves the fair and equal treatment of people, regardless of their gender. A feminist believes that while women are physically different from and think differently about some things than men, this does not make either superior or inferior, it just means that they are different and should not be used as a basis for preferential treatment either way. Supporters of equal treatment for both genders are called feminists, whether or not they themselves are female.
Note: some feminists, often referred to as feminazis, have given feminism a bad name by claiming that men are evil and that oppression lurks everywhere. This is unfortunate, as real feminism is about gender equality.

Feminism means that women are not *better* than men, just different from them, and should not be treated any better or worse than men for it.

A political movement, the goal of which is EQUAL rights for men and women. Many people view feminism as a negative movement. There are many branches of feminism such as Eco-Feminism, Womanism, Liberal and Radical Feminism. Feminists are more than just bra burning man haters. They are anyone who believes in equal rights for women and men!

"I support feminism because I believe woman are just as capable as men."